Press roll drive



1366- 1934. J. J. FARRELL 1,933,126

PRESS ROLL DRIVE 7, Filed Sept. 21, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ITI Q- FFH bDec. 4, 1934. J, .LFARRELL 1,933,126

PRESS ROLL DRIVE FiledSept. 21, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I zmenzifl Dec.4, 1934. J, J, FARRELL PRESS ROLL DRIVE Filed Sept. 21, 1955 5Sheets-Sheet 3 p W. 7m

Dec. 4, 1934; l J. J. FARRELL 1,983,126

I PRESS ROLL DRIVE Filed Sept. 21, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 4, 1934. JJ. 1,983,126

PRES S ROLL DRIVE Filed Sept. 21, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 as 5%? 6' 4 AMPatented Dec. 4, 1934 ranss ROLL DRIVE John J. Farrell, Downingtown, Pa,assignor powningtown Manufacturing Company, Downngtown, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application September 2i, 1933, Serial No.3909, 193

20 Claims. (Cl. 92-d9) portant in the production of paper.

These rolls must be frequently ground, and as a result of this grinding,anyattempt to directly connect the rolls for driving at the samerelative speeds either requires changes of the connecting gearing or theuse of gears having abnormally long teeth. With either of theseconstructions there is, however, a surface speed variation as thecenters of the rolls approach one another following grinding operationsand this variation results in operating troubles, loss of production andincreased cost of operation. Due to the inability to obtain properspeeds of the upper roll, itis often necessary to drive the press atmuch lower speeds than would be possible were the proper relative speedsmaintained, due to the fact that with improper relative speeds highspeeds of the press will cause crushing of the paper. For this reason,many attempts have been made to provide for compensating means in thedriving connection between the rolls with, however, but indifferentsuccess. I

.An important object of this invention is the provision of means forautomatically maintaining the proper relative speeds of the press rolls.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement ofthis character which is so constructed that in event of failure of theautomatic means the operator can vary the relative speeds during theoperation of the machine as desired. 1 I

A furtherobject oi the-invention is the provision in apparatus of thischaracter of an arrangement such that the relative speed is not affectedby adjustments of the top roll of the press toward and away from thebottom roll thereof.

These and other objects I attain by the construction' shown in theaccompanying drawings,.

wherein, for -the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferredembodiment of my invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a press roll drive and an associatedend portion of the press;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of thedrive;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of the automatic control;

Fig. 6 is-a front elevation of the timing mechanism;

Fig. '7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

'Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view through the automatic control;and

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10designates a suitable frame mounting a main drive shaft 11 operated inany suitable manner and driving, through shaft 12, the lower roll 13 ofa press P. Frame 10 mounts a second shaft 14 paralleling shaft 11 andconnected thereto by change speed mechanism com prising conepulleys 15mountedon the shafts 1i and i4 and connected by a belt 16. Shaft i l,through suitable-reducing gearing, drives a shaft 17, which shaft 1'! isco-axial with the pivot of' arm 18 supporting the upper roll 19 of pressP. it

Shaft 17 has a gear 20 thereon meshing with an identical gear Zion thetrunnion of the top press roll '19. It will be obvious that arm 18; maybe adjusted to vary the position of the top press roll without changingthe relation of the drive gears by which this roll is rotated.

In accordance with my invention, I equip shafts 12 and 17 with pulleys22 and 23 which are connected by belts 24 with pulleys 25 and 26 of acontrol unit more particularly shown in Figs. 3, 5" and 8. Pulleys 25and 26 each comprise an end wall 27 having a projecting hub 28 housed bythe pulley and by means of which the pulley is supported from externalbearings 29 carried by a suitable supporting bracket 30 mounted on frame10. The end walls 2'7 of the pulleys are arranged in proximity to one another and have disposed therebetween a friction disc 31 constantlyengaging both walls. Pulley 26 is axially threaded at 32 for thereception of the threaded end of a shaft 33, which shaft 33 is splinedat 34 in the pulley 25. Shaft 33 is journaled in the bracket and inframe 10 for endwise and rotative movement. Pivoted to the frame 10 is abell crank lever 35, one arm of which is forked for engagement withshaft 33 and the other arm of which is forked for engagement with ashifting arm 36 controlling shifting fork 37 for belt 16. Fork 3'7 is atpresent shown as slidably mounted upon a split tube 38 and as having anut 39 extending through the split of the tube to the interior thereofand having threaded engagement with shifting arm 36. Shifting arm 36 maybe rotated by means of a hand wheel 40 or through any other suitablemedium to change the location of fork 37 with relation to the arm.

It will be obvious that as long as pulleys 25 and 26 operate at the samespeed, there will be no efiect upon shaft 33 except rotation. When,however, one of .these pulleys operates at a higher speed than theother, there will be a consequent threading of shaft 33 through thepulley 26, the direction of movement of the shaft depending upon whichpulley is driven at the higher speed.

Since the shaft 33 is connected with the fork 37, longitudinal shiftingof this shaft will result in movement of the shifting fork and acorresponding change in speed of the input drive for the top roll.Obviously, by properly proportioning pulleys 22 and 23, any desiredproportionate peripheral speeds of the press rolls can be obtained andmaintained automatically through-- out operation. In order that such aconstruction may readily adapt itself to use in practical paper-making,it is preferred that one of these pulleys be of the expansible type andadjustable in operation, as indicated, such for example as that shown inthe patent to F. P. Connors granted September 8, 1931, No. 1,822,584,for Automatic expanding belt pulley. Use of such a puiley willadmit ofvariation of the relative speeds of rolls to suit the requirements ofthe particular grade of paper which is being run and the preferences ofthe operator.

Friction disc 31 will, normally, prevent such relative movement in theabsence of a positive drive variation. If, for example, one of the belts24 is broken, this friction disc will serve to rotate the undrivenpulley 25 or 26 and prevent any change of adjustment. At this time,speed variations may be regulated through hand wheel 40. Obviously, atany time that the diameter of either of rolls 13 or 19 changes, the sizeof the driving pulley on the operating shaft of the roll must be"correspondingly changed. This may be conveniently effected by makingthese driving pulleys as indicated.

In order that an optical check on the relative speeds of the press rollsmay be maintained, I

further provide a timing unit 41 more particu-.

larly shown in Figs. 1,3, 6 and 7. This unit comprises a suitablehousing 42 mounting a shaft 43 having a reduced end portion 44:. Asleeve 45 is in surrounding relation to the reduced portion of theshaft, and the sleeve and shaft have each secured thereto a worm gear46. The ends of the sleeve and reduced portion of the shaft project fromthe housing 42 and the sleeve is equipped with a dial 47 while the shaftis equipped with a pointer 48 co-acting with the dial. Worms 49 engagethe worm wheels 46 and are provided with shafts 50 and 51 projectingthrough opposite sides of the housing 42 where they are equipped withpulleys 52. Shafts l2 and 17 are equipped with pulleys 53 and 54, ofwhich the pulley 54, as in the case of pulley 23, is adjustable as todiameter. No adjustment of the relative sizes of these pulleys isnecessary during operation of .the machine between treatments of theaffected press rolls, but it is merely desirable that the dial andpointer indicate the proportionate peripheral speeds of the press rolls.Accordingly, after any smoothing of the rolls resulting in a reductionof diameter thereof, an adjustment of the proportionate sizes of thepulleys 53 and 54 must be made, following which there will be nonecessity for adjustment until the sizes have again been varied. It willbe obvious that the dial 47 and pointer 48 will be rotated at speedsproportionate to the peripheral speeds of the press rolls and that ifthese roll speeds are equal the pointer will not change its positionwith relation to the dial. When, however, there is a variation in speed,the pointer will shift upon the dial, indicating such variation. Thedial, being graduated, offers a means for very closely checking therelative speeds of the press rolls and, accordingly, admits of exacttiming of the rolls.

While I have described and illustrated a particular mechanism, it willbe understood that this is merely for the purpose of illustration andthat considerable modification can be resorted to without in any mannerdeparting from the spirit of my invention. For example, any conventionaldriving connection may be provided between shafts 11 and 17 which willpermit of a very gradual and accurate variation in the speeds of theshafts. Obviously, with a change in the type of drive, there must besome change in the particular structure of the control mechanism toadapt it to such type of drive. I, accordingly, do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the particular structure hereinillustrated and described except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: v

i. In apparatus of the type described, a pair of rolls, a drive shaftfor each roll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variablespeed driving connection between the shafts, and means controlled byrelative peripheral speeds of the rolls for varying the speed ofrotation of the shaft driven through said driving connection.

2. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for each roll,means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speed drivingconnection between the shafts, means for varying the speed of rotationof the shaft driven through said driving connection, and means tosensibly compare the peripheral speeds of the rolls.

3. In apparatus of the type described, a pair of rolls, a drive shaftfor each roll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variablespeed driving connection between the shafts, means controlled byrelative peripheral speeds of the rolls for varying the speed ofrotation of the shaft driven through said driving connection, manualmeans for varying the speed of rotation of the shaft driven through saiddriving connection, and means to sensibly compare the peripheral speedsof the rolls.

4. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for each roll,means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speed drivingconnection between the shafts, manually operable means for varying thespeed of rotation of the shaft driven through said driving connection,and means to sensibly compare the peripheral speeds of the roll.

5. In apparatus of the type described, a pair of rolls, a drive shaftfor each roll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variablespeed driving connection between the shafts, means controlled byrelative peripheral speeds of the rolls for varying the speed ofrotation of the shaft driven through said driving connection, and meansto sensibly compare the peripheral speeds of the rolls.

6. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for each roll,means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speed drivingconnection between the shafts, a longitui shiftable member determiningthe speed of rotation of the shaft driven by said driving connection, apair of rotatable elements relative rotation of which causeslongitudinal shift of said member and driving connections between saidelements and said rolls.

E 7.. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft foreach'roll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speeddriving connection between the shafts, a longitudinally shiftable memberdetermining the speed of rotation of the shaft driven by said drivingconnection, and means controlled by the relative peripheral speeds ofsaid rolls for longitudinally shifting said member.

8. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a

drive shaft for each roll, means to drive one of said shafts, agradually variable speed driving connection between the shafts, alongitudinallyshiftable member determining the speed of rotation of theshaft driven by said driving connection, a pair of rotatable elementsrelative rotation of which causes longitudinal shift of said member,means to rotate said members in accordance with the rotation of saidrolls, and means to prevent relative rotation of said rotatable elementsupon failure of the rotating means operating either of said elements.

9. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for each roll,means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speed drivingconnection between the shafts, a longitudinallyshiftable memberdetermining the speed of rotation of the shaft driven by said drivingconnection, a pair of rotatable elements relative rotation of whichcauses longitudinal shift of said member, means to rotatesaid members inaccordance with the rotation of said rolls, and means frictionallyresisting relative rotation of said rotata ble elements.

1b.. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for eachroll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speeddriving connection between the shafts, a longitudinallyshiftable memberdetermining the speed of rotation of the shaft driven by said drivingconnection, a pair of rotatable elements, a threaded connection betweenone of said rotatable ele ments and said member, a splined connectionbetweenthe other of said rotatable elements and said member and meanstorotate said elements in accordance with the rotation of the rolls.

ll. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for eachroll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speeddriving connection between the shafts, a longitudinally-= shiftablemember determining the speed of rotation of the shaft driven by saiddriving connection, a pair of rotatable elements relative rotation tion,a pair of rotatable elements, a threaded connection between one of saidrotatable elements and said member, a splined connection between theother of said rotatable elements and said member, means to rotate saidelements in ace "with the rotation of the rolls, and

means yieldably resisting relative rotation of the elements.

13. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a

drive shaft for each roll, means to drive one of said shafts, agradually variable speed driving r connection between the shafts, alongitudinallyshiftable member determining the speed of rotation of theshaft driven by said driving connection, a pair of rotatable elementsrelative rotation of which causes longitudinal shift of said mem- 1a. Ina press, upper and lower press rolls, a

drive shaft for each roll, means to drive one of said shafts, agradually variable speed driving connection between the shafts, alongitudinallyshiftable member determining the speed. of rotation of theshaft driven by said driving, connec tion, a pair of rotatable elementsrelative rotation of which causes longitudinal shift of said member,means to rotate said members in accordance with the rotation of saidrolls, means frictionally resisting relative rotation of said rotatableelements whereby the longitudinally-shiftable memher is held againstmovement upon failure of the rotating means of either of the rotatableele-, ments, and manually operable means 'to modify the speed ofrotation of the driven shaft as determined by saidlongitudinally-shiftable member.

15. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for eachroll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speeddriving connection between the shafts, a longitudinallyshiftable memberdetermining the speed of rotation of the shaft driven by saiddrivingconnection, a pair of rotatable elements, a threaded connection betweenone of said rotatable elements and said member, a splined connectionbetween the" other of said rotatable elements and said member, means torotate said elements in lid lbll

lld

accordance with the rotation of the rolls, means and manually operablemeans to modify the speed of rotation of the driven shaft as determinedby said longitudinally-shiftable member.

16. In apparatus of the type described, a pair of rolls, a drive shaftfor each roll, means to drive one of said shafts, agradually variablespeed driving connection between the shafts, means controlled byrelative peripheral speeds of the rolls for varying the speed ofrotation of the shaft driven through said driving connection to therebymaintain predetermined relative speeds of said rolls, the last-namedmeans including a part adjustable to determine the relation of the rollspeeds.

17. In apparatus of the type described, a pair of rolls, a drive shaftfor each roll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variablespeed driving connection between the shafts, means controlled byrelative peripheral speeds of the rolls for varying the speed ofrotation of the shaft driven through said driving connection to therebymaintain predetermined relative speeds of said rolls, the last-namedmeans including a part ad- ,iustable to determine the relation of theroll lid speeds, said part being adjustable during operation of therolls.

18. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for eachroll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speeddriving connection between the shafts, a longitudinallyshiftable memberdetermining the speed of rotation of the shaft driven by said drivingconnection, a pair of rotatable elements relative rotation of whichcauses longitudinal shift of said member and driving connections betweensaid elements and said rolls, the driving connection between one of saidelements and the associated roll being adjustable to determine the speedof rotation of the associated rotatable element whereby the relativespeeds of rotations of th rolls may be adjustably determined.

19. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for eachroll, means to drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speeddriving connection between the shafts, a longitudinallyshiftable memberdetermining the speed of rota tion'of the shaft driven by said drivingconnection, a pair of rotatable elements relative rotation of whichcauses longitudinalshift of said member and driving connections betweensaid elements and said rolls, the driving connection between one of saidelements and the associated roll being adjustable to determine the speedof rotation of the associated rotatable element whereby the relativespeeds of rotations of the rolls may be adjustably determined, and meansfor efiecting said adjustment during operation of the rolls.

20. In a press, upper and lower press rolls, a drive shaft for eachroll, means to'drive one of said shafts, a gradually variable speeddriving connection between the shafts, a longitudinallyshiftable memberdetermining the speed of rotation of the shaft driven by said drivingconnection, a pair of rotatable elements relative rotation of whichcauses longitudinal shift of said member, means to rotate said membersin accordance with the rotation of said rolls, means to prevent relativerotation of said rotatable elements upon failure of the rotating meansoperating either of said elements, and manual means for shifting saidmember.

JOHN J. FARRELL.

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